The Good Seed

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Apologies for not having updated the site very much over the past week or two. I have been quite busy with Sunday School starting again, so I haven't had much time to write articles. I also came down with a very bad cold this week, and ended up having to take several days off work to recuperate. But perhaps the sickness was ordained of God, for I was very glad of the time to rest and refocus on the important things in life. I have become aware over the past few weeks that as believers, we very much need that time apart from the distractions of the world, or we will quickly become overburdened with the cares of this life. Like Martha, we can become anxious about many things, but that is not what the Lord wants for His children.

This news from my friend Darrell. Sources within the European Union have revealed that talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority may recommence following the UN General Assembly at the end of this month despite the current deadlock in the peace process. The PA hardened its stance on the resumption of negotiations following the recent US change in policy which dictates that Israel cease all settlement activity in territories captured during the Six Day War. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu had been pressured by the US and EU into making a public declaration of support for the 'two-state' solution following his election to power. Despite making a positive affirmation on that issue, Netanyahu's government has now come under increasing pressure to agree to halt all settlement activity in the territories, on land which the Palestinians want for a state. So far the Prime Minister has been reluctant to agree to that, especially in the Old City area of Jerusalem which Israel claims sovereignty over, but rumours are that some sort of a deal is underway. The Israeli Prime Minister had also demanded that the Palestinian Authority recognize the Jewish character of Israel as a precondition to any future agreement. But President Abbas has refused to countenance that idea, as it would effectively spell the end of the Palestinian 'struggle' against Israel proper, and would prevent the Palestinians being able to demographically destroy the Jewish state through a mass exodus to the land. But even without agreement on these issues, European politicians are hopeful that the negotiations can recommence, and that a Palestinian state should be officially recognized within a set time frame. Javier Solana, the High Representative for the European Common, Foreign and Security Policy, was the first to declare that a Palestinian state should be established within a set time period, even without a final agreement in place. And now EU sources are confirming a statement made recently by the US President, that a Palestinian state will be declared within two years time, seemingly regardless of what may take place between now and then.

Quote:"Negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians will resume next month on the basis of an understanding that the establishment of a Palestinian state will be officially announced in two years. Palestinian and European Union sources told Haaretz that talks will initially focus on determining the permanent border between Israel and the West Bank. Due to the Palestinians' reservations over establishing a state with temporary borders, as was proposed during the second stage of the road map, this step will probably be defined as "early recognition" of Palestine. It is understood that this will be accompanied by a public American and European declaration that the permanent border will be based on the border of June 4, 1967. Both sides may agree to alter the border based on territorial exchanges. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's refusal to discuss Jerusalem and the Palestinian refugees in the initial negotiation stages will not be allowed to delay the announcement of an independent Palestinian state. Likewise, Netanyahu's demand that the Palestinians recognize Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, and that the Arab world embark on normalizing ties with Israel, will not constitute preconditions to an "early recognition" of Palestine.

I find it hard to believe that the international community is actually contemplating resolving the Middle East conflict without a final agreement from either Israel or the Palestinians. I can't think of a more foolhardy idea from President Obama, and it is one which is bound to lead to a regional conflict between Israel and its neighbours. The disengagement from Gaza in 2005 and the subsequent Hamas coup two years later proved beyond all reasonable doubt that the only function of a future Palestinian state is to provide a base from which to plot the ultimate destruction of Israel. What makes this declaration worse is, the international recognition of the Palestinian state, along with the refusal of Israel to give up any part of Jerusalem, will ultimately bring the whole Arab world against them. And eventually the whole world will become embroiled in this conflict, according to the Scriptures (Zechariah 12:2-3). What we are seeing today are the seeds of Armageddon. The international community has sown to the wind, and they will reap the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7). The Bible states that half way through Daniel's seventieth week, that the Antichrist will seemingly break a covenant he had strengthened between Israel and many nations, which will result in the division of the land and the city of Jerusalem (Daniel 9:27, Revelation 11:2). And for three and a half years, the Gentiles will occupy the Old City. As you can see from today's news, the international community is already talking about enforcing an agreement on Israel concerning the status of east Jerusalem. End time prophecy is being fulfilled before our eyes. Unfortunately most people do not recognize that. They are like the children of Israel in the Old Testament, who said of Ezekiel, "The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off". God's Word to them is the same as it is to us today, "There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord GOD". God's Word is coming to pass. It is plain to see. But have you done anything about it? As the hymn says, 'Are you in the Ark, or are you outside?'. Are you in Christ Jesus? Have you trusted in Him for the forgiveness of sins? Or are you outside of Christ? Have you ignored the warnings, and will you perish in your sins in the coming judgement? Millions left it just one day too late in Noah's time. Don't make the same mistake.

Isaiah 32:1-2 Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.